Birding North Peru with Chaparri.

The perfect trip for those with little time. You only have to take a week off from work. The trip can be fitted Saturday-Saturday. Good lodging throughout the trip and very comfortable. It is also a trip to which it is possible to add a two days to explore archeological sites such as Chan Chan, Moche in Trujillio and the Sipan Museum in Lambayeque. For those who wish one may make a detour to the Chachapyas fortress at Kuelap.

DEPARTURES:

No Departures for this Tour

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THE TOUR:

Day 1. Chiclayo-Chaparri. White-winged Guan and Tumbes Tyrant.

Either you have stayed in Chiclayo the previous night or just flown in in the early morning. We drive straight to Chaparri which has an excellent setting and prime birding with re-introduced White-winged Guan. Also Tumbes Tyrant, Tumbes Hummingbirds, Scarlet-backed Woodpecker, Sulphur-throated Finch, White-headed Brush-Finch and others. At night search for Scrub Nightjar, Peruvian Screech-Owl, Buff-fronted Owl and Striped Owl. Night at Chaparri Lodge.

After watching hummingbirds bathing at Chaparri we shall continue to the Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, Tumbes Swallow and many more Tumbesian endemics such as Black-crested Antshrike and White-tailed Jay at Bosque Pomac and then drive to Olmos. Afternoon will be spent at Quebrada Frejolillo looking out for White-winged Guan. Night in Olmos at Hospedaje Valle Grande.

We continue to Abra Porculla. Targets here include Chapman's Antshrike, Bay-crowned Brush-Finch. Elegant Crescentchest, Rufous-necked and Henna-hooded Foliagegleaner, Black-cowled Saltator, Porculla Hermit and the rare Piura Chat-Tyrant. In the late afternoon we shall arrive in Jaen in the afternoon and immediately look for Marañon Crescentchest, Marañon Slaty Antshrike, Necklaced Spinetail and more . Hotel Prim's, Jaen.

Day 4. Jaen-Pomacochas. Little Inca-Finch and Marvelous Spatuletail

Birding on the way to Pomacochas for Little Inca-Finch, Marañon Spinetail and Little Woodstar. It is possible to do a detour to the Chachapyas fortress at Kuelap. Later in the afternoon near Pomacochas we shall visit Kolibri Expeditions private reserve to try to spot a male Marvelous Spatueltail. Sleep in Pomacochas at very nice Puerto Pumas hotel.

Day 5. San Lorenzo trail and Abra Patricia. Pale-billed Antpitta and Long-whiskered Owlet.

In the morning we shall bird the trail above San Lorenzo for Pale-billed Antpitta, Russet-backed Softtail, Rusty-tinged Antpitta and the schulenbergi race of Plain-tailed Wren, which possibly could be split. Rest of the day at Abra Patricia/Afluentes. A great number of good birds. Below the Abra Patricia pass at 2400m, possibilities include Rusty-tinged and Rusty-breasted Antpittas, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Peruvian Rufous-vented Tapaculo, White-collared Jay and the recently described Lulu's Tody-Tyrant. The road then passes next to a series of low ridges cloaked in stunted forest. This is the type locality for the enigmatic Long-whiskered Owlet, one of the great ornithological mysteries of the continent, and one of the few localities where Ochre-fronted Antpitta has been seen. The Owlet was recently seen and photographed in the wild, so our chances are better than they ever were. Night at Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge.

Day 6. Afluentes and Abra Patricia. Royal Sunangel and White-capped Tanager.

Full day Afluentes/Abra Patricia. First we bird the surroundings of the Lodge for Bar-winged Wood-Wren, Royal Sunangel, and Cinnamon-breasted Tody-Tyrant, and noisy flocks of White-capped Tanagers. We shall then bird Afluentes area lower down. Cock of the Rock lek nearby. Tanager flocks, Umbrellabird, Red-ruffed Fruitcrow possibilities. Ecuadorian Piedtail and Napo Sabrewing among the hummers. Black-mandibled Toucan, Equatorial Graytail, Gray-mantled Wren, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Foothill Antwren, the endemic Speckle-chested Piculet, Versicolored Barbet and a wide variety of tanagers including the scarce Vermilion Tanager are other possibilities. Night at Abra Patricia Owlet Lodge.

Additional birding near Abra Patricia Lodge in the morning. In the afternoon we shall drive to Rioja. Near Rioja we shall look for birds in the vecinity of Yacumama, which is good for Buckley’s Forest-Falcon, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Russet-crowned Crake, Blackish Nightjar, Fiery-capped Manakin, Yellow Tyrannulet, Rufous Casiornis and Great-billed Seed-Finch. We may also make a stop at Morro de Calzada near Moyobamba where the birds may include Tataupa Tinamou, Black-faced Tanager, Mishana Tyrannulet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Cinererous-breasted Spinetail, Pale-breasted Thrush, Blue-crowned Trogon, Red-legged Honeycreeper and many more. Night at Waqanki Fruiteater Lodge, Moyobamba.

Day 8. Waqanki-Tarapoto. Rufous-crested Cockette and Oilbird.

The hummingbird-feeders at Waqanki are fantastic. It is often possible to get over 15 species of hummingbirds in only a couple of hours. The star species is Rufous-crested Coquette. Drive to Tarapoto via a gorge where Oilbird can be seen without entering a cave. In the afternoon we usually have time tor some birding near Juan Guerra which may produce Huallaga Slaty-Antshrike and Planalto Hermit. Evening flight to Lima.Ask us about our day trips in Lima if you need to kill time in Lima. You can also add days birding around Tarapoto.